Scottish-American Military Society

[MuffinMan]

Does anyone know anything about this society? I attend a military funeral today in Phoenix and this society provided a honorguard. After the funeral I struck a conversation with the three about it history and if I was interested how to join. They told of course it is military society, so only active duty or honorable discharge veterans with Scottish blood can become members. Since I do not have any Scottish bloodlines I thanked them and went home.
I googled the society and in their membership section, there is no mentioned of Scottish ties being a condition of membership. Are the local clubs just very restrictive or just don't know who can join. Anyone run across these folks before?

[Chas]

I have met two different SAMS members on-line in the past. One was very pro Scottish the other invited me as an ex-RAF serviceman to join.

I have only heard good things about them. If I had to sum up the organisation in one word, it would be, honourable.

If I were you, I would fill out the form, with a covering letter as to your affinity to Scotland and send them both off with your cheque.

I doubt very much that they would turn you down.

Regards

Chas

[Sir William]

I'm a long-time member and I know there are other X-Markers who are members. Most of what I've seen members do is provide color guards at Scottish Games, funerals, or other similar activities. Some posts are very active and will have a tent at the Games. Post 76, located in the Hampton Roads area in Virginia has had a couple of kilt nights at a local pub.

SAMS membership is open to honorably discharged veterans or active duty or reserve military persons who have served or are serving with any branch of the US Armed Forces.

Membership is open to:

Present or former Regular or Reserve members of the US Armed Forces. Individuals who have been discharged or released from duty must not have received a less than honorable discharge.

Cadets of any of the Armed Service Academies or college level ROTC

Spouses, widows, or widowers of any of veterans or Service Academy/ROTC cadets.

Members of the British Commonwealth Armed Forces


You don't have to be of Scottish descent but you will be asked about your background.
A. SCOTTISH BACKGROUND
[ ] I am of Scottish birth (Place: ______________________________).
[ ] Scots or Scotch-Irish descent; my surname is _______________________. The name and relationship of my ancestor is:
__________________________________________________ .
[ ] If not of Scottish descent, reason(s) for requesting membership (i.e., marriage to a Scot, Commonwealth military service, etc.):___________________________________.

I'm not sure what would be said if you didn't qualify according to the above, but you can always ask the SAMS Adjutant: samsadjutant@comcast.net

http://www.s-a-m-s.org/

[MuffinMan]

Thanks for the reply, the gentlemen did an excellent job as Honorguard, I was surprised at the requirements told to me, it didn't ring right, I believe I have met others in the past, maybe thats why I investagated further.
They didn't have a piper, thankgoodness, I cry like a baby when the pipes are played at a funeral.
MM

[SteveB]

I am also a member of the Scottish American Military Society. It is a military veterans organization under its charter and its status with the IRS. The big must is documented military service (DD 214 in the US). My post has members that have served in the Canadian Forces, the Royal Navy, and the Royal Air Force. All the members of my post have at least a wee bit of Scot blood.

The if not of Scots or Scot-Irish descent section allows a lot of wiggle room as many of Scot surname, can not prove their lineage back to Alba. This is also to allow membership of veterans that are spouses of Scots. It does not hurt to contact the National Adjutant, the answer may be in your favour.

I have posted colours at a few funerals. Now I am trying to figure out how to post colours and play the pipes at the same time.

Slainte

[saharris]

Just being an ROTC cadet counts? I completed four years of Marine Corps ROTC training at the Virginia Military Institute but chose not to take a commission upon graduation.

[MuffinMan]

I have always being interested in kilts since I found out my Grandfather and his brother served with the Blackwatch out of Canada during WWI. If all the guys in this post are very hardcore about Scottish ties, I don't know if I should try to rock the boat. I am already lifemembers of the VFW and 82nd Airborne assn. so a third one might be much for my beloved.

MM

[HeathBar]

I have a friend who is involved with the post in Knoxville. He travels and sets up at a lot of the same games I do. Membership involves two parts. First you join the national organization. Their website has an application. The application only asks that you describe your interest if you are not of Scottish ancestry. I think your story about your grandfather and great uncle is reason enough. Once you have joined the national organization, then you can join one of the local posts. I don't think a local post would exclude you if the national org didn't. There is a new member here that is a post commander from Memphis. I think it was TheNaughtyScot. Ask him for his opinion.

If you haven't found here is their website.

http://www.s-a-m-s.org/

[David H]

When I first did the paperwork to get into the Society, I put down that my grandmother was a White, hence a connection to Clan Lamont and MacGregor. My father was born with the last name of Gibbs, a sept to the Buchannans. My wife's grandmother was a Henry, a sept of Henderson. I do have McKinneys going back to my GG grandmother so I do have some connection to Scotland.
Although I think the Whites and Gibbs in my family came from England, they are still septs, so I was allowed into SAMS.
I know of members whose wife has Scottish connections and they are in. It is not as stringent as you might think.
SAMS is a great organization, I love being a member. The thing that I have taken away from SAMS is that I look upon SAMS as my clan. As you can see, I really do not have a very strong connection to any Scottish Clan, although I am a member of clan Henderson, however I have a strong relationship with those who have been in the military. No matter what branch of service we all know what it is like to work a Christmas Day in another country or miss somebody in your families birthday.
That is why I am a member. If you can find anything that can get you in, you should look into it.

[TheNaughtyScot]

Gentlemen,

I'm sorry to have missed this thread. I haven't been on XMarks in a bit. I'm the Commander of the local Memphis post and we are always looking for new recruits. We have veterans from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, plus non-combat servicemembers. However, I am the only member from the recent Middle East engagements, thus I am the youngest. I am very eager to find some fellow desert veterans and young blood for my unit. I have started a website in order to find younger veterans and I encourage all of you to check it out. (http://www.samspost1943.org) We've got some pictures of our unit and we're adding more. Plus, we have some links to other SAMS Posts around the country. On the home page, I have tried to outline our Post's mission and activities in case you were curious. We have connected ourselves with the local Memphis Scottish Society as what you might call their militant wing.


Ian Todd
Webmaster
SAMS Post 1943
Memphis, TN
www.SAMSPost1943.org